Thompson urges Senate, White House to prioritize reforms to career and technical education programs

Visiting the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology (CPI) campus for the first day of classes on Monday, U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) called on the Senate and the White House to back his proposed career and technical education (CTE) reforms.

Thompson co-authored the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, H.R. 2353, earlier this year. Approved by the House in June, the bill would reauthorize and reform the Carl D. Perkins Education Act for the first time in 11 years.

H.R. 2353 would make it easier for states to apply for federal funds for CTE programs, and states would also be given more flexibility to change how federal resources are used based on educational and economic conditions.

“As a consistent advocate for high-quality career and technical education, I am very proud of the way CPI and other institutions across Pennsylvania’s 5th Congressional District are helping to shape the futures of our nation’s youth,” Thompson said on Monday.

In November, CPI will launch a new two-year degree program in partnership with Cleveland Brothers, a Caterpillar dealer based in Pennsylvania, and Aerial Corp., a manufacturer of natural gas compressors. Students will become specialists of natural gas compression technology while receiving $15,000 per year in company-sponsored tuition reimbursement when pre-hired by a program partner.

“We must mirror this dedication and vigor in Washington, and work together to make the Strengthening Career and Education for the 21st Century Act the foundation for a new era of economic growth,” Thompson continued.

H.R. 2353, which Thompson introduced with bipartisan support from U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), would support innovative CTE programs and strong community partnerships, and it would bolster accountability by streamlining CTE performance measures.

Richard Makin, the president of CPI, praised the legislation. “Over the course of my career, I can think of no other time than today when it was more important that we make career-technical education the focal point of workforce development. CPI’s new Natural Gas Compression-CAT\Ariel Emphasis two-year degree program will do just that by training students to become technicians in the high demand field of gas compression.”

Makin added that he is hopeful the Senate will make it a legislative priority in the fall, with support from the Trump administration.